VTech have extended their contract with supply chain specialist iForce, which probably isn’t of much interest to you unless you’re looking for a logistics solution, but what should be is the online growth demand for toys.
iForce’s technology and proprietary systems carry out out a variety of activities for VTech’s distribution business in the UK, including the management of retail orders, stock control and returns management. The new deal extension follows one of the busiest month’s ever for VTech, over Peak, when £2m worth of toys was sent out on a single Monday, illustrating the growth of online demand for toys.
iForce supplies a complete outsourced solution to VTech’s delivery and returns logistics needs from its Milton Park site. All of VTech’s supply chain needs are managed through its bespoke technology and experienced team. VTech’s stock, imported from Hong Kong, is stored, and then individual orders are built and distributed to customers with bulk orders sent directly to retailers for sell-on. Each bulk order for stores is specially configured, packaged and labeled to enable immediate sale
Looking forward Christmas 2015 is likely to surpass Christmas 2014 and we’re already predicting that Black Friday this year will be busier than ever. We’re aware that many smaller online retailers didn’t prepare for Black Friday in 2014 and yet still saw an uptick in sales and that’s especially true for toys.
If you’re not already start preparing by building your email marketing lists (both eBay shop marketing and on your website). Start considering what stock profile you’ll be carrying and also start planning to advertise some Black Friday deals and make sure you’ve some margin to play with to give a strong message to get your customer shopping. Even if that means having products listed at higher prices so that you can discount heavily, or of course using Black Friday 2015 as a means to liquidate your aged stock.
